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Baseball star Lee Seung-yeop, 27, said Thursday that he would be joining the Japanese team Chiba Lotte Marines next season. Lee said during a press conference at the Ritz Carlton Hotel that although he had hoped to play in the American major league, he decided instead to go to Japan. The Chiba Lotte Marines offered Lee the best incentives and promised to help him play in the major leagues after a couple of years.
The star burst into tears during the conference, swayed by regrets over going against his family, fans, and country¡¯s hope for him to stay in Korea. Lee is to sign the formal contract in Japan on December 16.
Lee said that he gave everything he could to his Korean fans for nine years, and that if he played in Korea next season, he would be playing without a goal. He added that he chose the Lotte Marines so that he could set a new goal for himself, and because it offered him a chance to play in the major leagues two years later.
Lee also said that in terms of money, the Lotte Marines¡¯s offer was not so different than his earning with the Samsung Lions, but that he wished to go to Japan and fulfill his dream, which is to show Japan his skill and be invited to the American major league.
He added that hoped that although he had disappointed many fans by going to Japan, he could prove to them in a few years that his decision was right.
(Ko Seok-tae, kost@chosun.com ) and (Kang Ho-cheol, jdean@chosun.com )
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